Ironing table



Nov. 24, 1959 E. v. A. ASHBY IRONING TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001:. 20, 1955 A\ REF/l llll v Y m. w e mi m NM IRONING TABLE Ernest V. A. Ashby, Columbus,"lnd., assignor to Arvin llfidistries, Inc., Columbus, Ind., a corporation of ana Application October 20, 1955, Serial No. 541,620

6 Claims. (Cl. 38-'-121)' This invention relates to adjustable ironing tables of the crossed-leg type. As such ironing tables are commonly manufactured, the top is. supported by a pair of legs which are pivotally interconnected intermediate their respective lengths. The upper end of .one leg is piv-- otally connected to the top on a fixed axis usually located near the rear end thereof, while the upper end of the other leg is guided for sliding movement longitudinally up the top and appropriate means is provided for securing the leg-end in any of various positions along its path of sliding movement. Such means, by controlling the angle between the legs, controls the height at which the top is supported from the floor or other supporting surface. Upon release of such means the legs may be brought into a fully collapsed position against the top to facilitate storage of the table.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved height-adjusting means for crossed-legged ironing tables. A further object of the invention is to produce a height-adjusting means which will aiiord an infinitely variable height-adjustment within maximum and minimum limits. Still another object of the invention is to produce an adjusting means which will prevent complete collapse of the table when the top is in horizontal position but which will not interfere with complete collapse when the top is supported in or near a vertical position.

In carrying out the invention in its preferred form, I provide the upper end of the adjustable leg with a latch which is pivotal on an axis transverse to the top of the ironing table. Such latch is provided with an opening receiving a rod which extends longitudinally of the top, the arrangement being such that any tendency of the upper end of the adjustable leg to move forwardly, or in a table-collapsing direction, will cause the latch to swing about its axis of pivotal attachment to the leg and produce binding of the edges of the hole upon the longitudinal rod. To effect release of the latch, as is necessary for a controlled lowering of the top, the latch is provided with a tail piece engaging a second longitudinally extending rod which, through an appropriate control member, can be moved toward or away from the top to control engagement and disengagement ofthe latch. The second, or latch-controlling, rod is provided with an offset portion adjacent its forward end, such offset portion serving to effect latch-release even though the latch-release rod is in its normal position. To prevent the ofiset portion of the release rod from making possible complete collapse of the board when the top is in or near a horizontal position, I employ a gravity actuated abutment which, when the top is horizontal, lies in the path of the latch and serves to rock it into binding engagement with its associated rod but which, when the top is near a vertical position, swings out of the path of the latch to permit complete collapse of the legs.

ln-the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one embodiment of the invention: I I

I 2 Fig. l is a side elevation of an ironing table in operative position;

. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the ironing table with the legs I in completely collapsed condition;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the ironing table with the legs completely collapsed;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental plan view of the extended table on an enlarged scale with portions of the top broken away to illustrate the adjusting mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section on the line 6-6" of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a fragmental longitudinal section on the line 77 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmental longitudinal section corresponding to Fig. 5,but showing the table in vertical position and fully collapsed.

The ironing table shown in the drawing comprises a top 10, a front leg 11 pivoted to the top at a point 12 near the rear end thereof, and a rear leg 13. The two legs 11 and 13 cross each other and, at their point of crossing, are pivotally interconnected by any appropriate pivot means 14. As shown, each of the legs is a onepiece member and is provided at its lower end with a cross member 15 to the ends of which feet 16 are attached.

The upper end of the rear leg 13 is provided with a transversely extending pin 20 the ends of which are received in guides 21 extending between two spaced cross members 22 and 23 on the underside of the top 10. As-

shown, the cross members 22 and 23 are formed of sheet-metal in a general U-shaped cross-section, and their" such guides being long enough to permit the legs 11 and 13 to be adjusted between a fully collapsed condition in which they lie in substantially coplanar relationship against the lower face of the top 10 and a fully extended condition in which they support the top at the maximum desired height.

The means shown in the drawing for controlling the position of the pin 20 along the guides 21 embodies a latch rod 25 which is held in substantially fixed position longitudinally of the top by the cross members 22 and 23. In the particular arrangement illustrated in the drawings, the rod 25 extends through openings 26 in the adjacent flanges of the U-shaped cross members 22 and 23 into proximity to the remote flanges of such cross members. For a reason which will become apparent hereinafter, the openings 26 are vertically elongated to permit a slight vertical movement of the rod 25.

Cooperating with the latch rod 25 is a latch member designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 28. Such member, which is desirably formed as a sheet-metal stamping, has a pair of spaced, parallel walls 29 provided with openings which receive the pin 20. Ex-

tending between the walls 29 of the latch member 28 is a third wall 30 having an opening 31 which loosely receives the rod 25. A leaf spring 32 secured to the latch member 28 and bearing resiliently against the rod 25 creates friction which, in leftward (Figs. 4, 5 and 7) movement of the pin 20 tends to rotate the latch member in a clockwise direction. Such clockwise rotation of the latch member causes the edges of the hole 31 to bind on the rod 25 and to create a frictional drag sufficient to prevent leftward movement of the pin 20. It will be noted that the latch member 28 is self-energizing in opposing leftward movement of Patented Nov. 24, 1959 the. pin 20; for the. binding effect existing between the edges of the opening 31 and the rod 25 tends to rock the latch member in a clockwise direction and thus increases the magnitude ofxthe binding effect. As the pin 20 must move to the left to permit collapse of the legs 11 and 13, the latch member 28. prevents leftward movement of the pin 20. and sustains the ironing table in extended condition.

If, with the table erected as shown in Fig. 1, the top is lifted, the pin 20. will tend to move to the right under the influence of the, weight of the legs, and the frictional drag of the spring 32, as well as any binding effect existing between the edges of the opening 31 and the rod 25, will tend to swing the. latch member in a counterclockwise direction to release such binding effect and permit free. rightward movement of the pin 20. In other words, to increase the elevation of the top 10', it is only necessary to apply lifting effort to it, as the latch member 28 is ineffective'to oppose rightward movement of the upper end of the rear leg 13. As soon as the lifting effort is removed from the top, the force of gravity acting upon the top tends to cause movement of the pin 20 toward the left, whereupon the latch member rocks to grip the rod 25 and hold the top at its new elevation.

Means for releasing the latch 28 to permit lowering of the top 10 comprises a generally U-shaped yoke 35 which is pivoted to the cross members 22 and 23 on an axis located a short distance outwardly of the top 10 from the rod 25. The intermediate portion of the yoke 35 extends generally parallel to the adjacent margin of the top 10 and is located a slight distance below such top so that it can be manipulated by one finger of a hand grasping the edge of the top. On the opposite side of the pivotal axis of the yoke 35 from the rod 25, the yoke 35 carries a latch-release rod 37 which extends longitudinally of the top parallel to the rod 25. The latch 28 is provided with a tailpiece 38 which overlies the rod 37, as will be clear from Figs. 4 and 8 and which is freely slidable along the rod 37 to provide a sliding connection between such rod and the latch 28. The point of engagement of the tailpiece 38 with the rod 37 is so disposed that upward movement of the rod laterally of itself will rock the latch member 28 in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 7) and release the latch member to permit free sliding thereof along the rod 25. The latch rod 25 is connected to the inner ends of the yoke 35 so that as the yoke 35 is manipulated to raise the rod'37 the latch rod 25 will be depressed to accommodate the counterclockwise rotation of the latch member 28.

The center of gravity of the yoke 35 lies outwardly beyond its axis of pivotal connection to the cross members 22 and 23 so that the force of gravity tends to depress the release rod 37 and to elevate the latch rod 25, thus promoting the binding action of the latch 28 on the latch rod. However, when the outer portion of the yoke 35 is manually elevated, the latch 28 will be swung about the pin 20 to free the edges of the hole 31 from binding upon the rod 25.

Near its front end, the rod 37 is formed with an upwardly offset portion 40. Such offset portion is so disposed longitudinally of the rod 37 that it is engaged by the tailpiece 38 only after the ironing table has been collapsed beyond any condition existing in its normal use. The extent of the offsetting of the portion 40 is such that when the tailpiece 38 engages it the latch 28 will be held in released position even if the intermediate portion of the yoke 35 is fully depressed. As a result of the presence of the offset portion 40, it is unnecessary to apply latch releasing effort to the yoke 35 in the final stages of table-collapse.

It will be apparent that if, with the table in erected condition, the latch is released by manipulation of the yoke 35 to permit lowering of the top 10, such lowering of e p c nnot be a ested by re ease 9f th ra e :5

after the table has been collapsed sufliciently to bring the tail piece 38 into association with the offset portion 40 of the rod 37; for, as noted above, the offset portion 40, acting through the tailpiece 38, will hold the latch in released condition. To prevent accidental complete collapse of the table afterit has been collapsed to or beyond the point at which the tailpiece 38 engages the offset portion 40, I may employ the gravity actuated abutment or latch-actuator 45 shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 8. Such abutment may take the form of a strip of sheet metal hingedly connected to the front cross member 22 to extend rearwardly therefrom and be supported on the rod 25 when the top 10 is in horizontal position. In such condition, the free end of the abutment 45 lies in the path of the latch 28 in position to engage the wall 30 of such latch at a point above the axis of the pin 20 about which the latch rocks. Longitudinally of the top, the free end of the abutment 45 is disposed to engage the latch-wall 30 after the tailpiece, in collapsing of the table, has entered into association with the offset 40 but before the table has attained a state of complete collapse. Accordingly, should the top 10 be released from support after the tailpiece 38 .has engaged the offset 40, it can drop only to the point where the wall 30 of the leftwardly moving latch 28 engages the stop 45, whereupon such stop will rock the latch and will cause it to bind upon the rod 25 and prevent further lowering of the top. In its function of being engaged by the latch-actuator 45 to cause locking of the latch, the wall 30 serves as a latch-control member. Since the yoke 35 is free to swing about its axis of pivotal connection to the cross members 22 and 23 except as limited by its connection to the latch 28, the offset portion 40 does not interfere with rocking of the latch 28 under the force exerted upon it by' the stop 45.

The stop 45 is free to swing under the influence of gravity which, when the top 10 is horizontal, holds the free end of the stop against the rod 25 in the path of the latch 28, as above set forth. However, if the ironing table is upended (Fig. 8) to bring the top 10 into a vertical position, the stop 45 swings against the top 10 out of the path of movement of the latch 28, thus per mitting the offset 40 to exercise its normal function and release the latch 28 so that the legs 11 and 13 can be completely collapsed against the lower surface of the top.

Conveniently, the stop 45 is loosely mounted in a notch 46 in the upper edge of the rear flange of the front cross member 22, notches in the side of the stop receiving the edges of the notch in the cross member to locate the stop longitudinally of itself. That portion 48 of the stop which lies within the cross member 22 is bent downwardly relative to the body of the stop so that it cannot engage the top 10 to interfere with free downward swinging of the stop into contact with the rod 25 when the top 10 is disposed horizontally.

For releasably holding the table in collapsed condition, the front cross-member 22 may support a rearwardly projecting spring finger 50 formed at its rear end 51 (Fig. 8) to provide a detent engageable with the pin 20. The pinretaining effort of such detent is sufficient to hold the legs collapsed when the board is up-ended as shown in Fig. 3 and leaned against a wall for storage.

To erect the board, it is conveniently held in a vertical position and an outward effort (indicated by the arrow 53 in Fig. 3) suflicient to release the pin 20 from the detent 51 is applied to the upwardly projecting leg. Upon such release, the legs 11 and 13 will swing outwardly relative to the top under the influence of gravity, the latch 28 sliding freely rearwardly along the latch-rod 25. When the table is swung forwardly about the foot of the floor-engaging leg, the effect of gravity is reversed and the latch engages to prevent collapse of the legs in the manner above set forth. At any time, the height of the table may be increasedmerely by applying a lifting effort to the top, and the latch will engage upon termination of the lifting operation to hold the top at its new elevation. To lower the top, it is only necessary to raise the yoke 35, thus freeing the latch 28 for forward sliding movement along the rod 25 as above described.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an adjustable table having a top, crossed pivotally interconnected first and second top-supporting legs swingable into and out of a collapsed position, said first leg being pivotally connected to the top, means on the top guiding the upper end of the second leg for movement toward and away from the pivotal connection of the first leg and the top, latch means acting between the top and said second leg and operative to limit extending movement of said legs, said means including interengageable elements connected respectively to the top and second leg and a latch-control member mounted on the upper end of said second leg, and a gravity actuated latch-actuator carried by said top, said actuator,

- when the top is horizontal, lying in the path of movement of said latch-control member and engageable therewith to positively effect interengagement of interengageable elements before the legs reach fully collapsed position, said actuator being movable out of such path under the influence of gravity when the top is in a vertical position. i

2. A table as set forth in claim 1 with the addition that said latch means comprises a rod mounted in said top and extending parallel to the path of movement of the upper end of the second leg, and a cramp-plate pivotally mounted on said second leg and having an opening which slidably receives said rod, said cramp-plate being swingable to cause the edges of said opening to bind on said rod, said latch-control member being rigid with said cramp-plate.

3. In a table, a top, a collapsible support therefor'ineluding a leg the upper .end of which is movable along the top, releasable latch means acting between the top and the upper end of said leg and effective when operative to limit collapse of thesupport, said means including a rod carried by said top and extending parallel to the path of movement of said leg-end, a cramp-plate pivotally mounted on said leg-end and having an opening slidably receiving said rod, said cramp-plate being swingable about its axis of pivotal mounting to cause the edges of said opening to grip said rod, a release rod extending parallel to said first named rod, a slidable connection between said release rod and cramp-plate operative upon movement of the release rod laterally of itself in one direction to swing said cramp-plate from rod-gripping position, and means for so moving said release rod.

4. The invention of claim 3 with the addition that said last mentioned means comprises a generally U-shaped yoke the two parallel legs of which are pivotally connected to said top on a common axis and the intermediate leg of which extends parallel to and near an edge of the top, said latch release rod being mounted in said yoke in a position spaced from such common axis.

5. The invention of claim 3 with the addition that said release rod has first and second portions ofiset laterally with respect to each other, said first portion cooperating with said connection when said support is in and near fully extended position and said second portion cooperating with said connection when the support is near its collapsed condition, said last named means normally maintaining said first portion of said release rod in latch-actuating position and said second portion in latch releasing position.

6. The invention of claim 5 with the addition of a gravity actuated latch-actuator carried by said top, said actuator, when said top is horizontal, lying in the path of movement of said cramp plate and being engageable therewith to swing the cramp plate into its rod-gripping position, said actuator being movable out of such path under the influence of gravity when the top is in a vertical position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 804,244 Messer Nov. 14, 1905 2,661,554 Siczkiewicz et al. Dec. 8, 1953 2,662,319 Hortman Dec. 15, 1953 2,748,512 Kulicke June 5, 1956 2,760,286 \(oigt ct al. Aug. 28, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 715,372 Great Britain Sept. 15, 1954 

